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Friday, May 2, 2014

Why Psychopaths, Sociopaths, and other Predators in the Clergy?

Former
FBI Agent Joe Navarro examines why predators find clergy positions
desirable in an
April 2014 article in Psychology Today.
(Thanks to Nancy Bicknell, artist
and survivor,
for drawing my attention to it.)
He cites an article
that claims that a career in clergy is the eighth most popular
profession chosen by predators, following on the heels of that of law
enforcement and with CEO topping out the list.

Defining
Terms

Citing
Robert Hare's definition of a psychopath from his landmark
book on the subject, the author points out some distinctions that
he finds important regarding some of the terminology that may limit
the definition of who might be a predator. He finds that the term
“psychopath” (someone with a chronic mental health disorder) is
overused and seems to loose meaning among a host of other types of
predators.

For the
average person working through the aftermath of a spiritual abuse
experience, it might be worth exploring the different types of
predators listed in the article. It depends on the person and their
unique recovery issues, though consideration of the characteristics
of leaders is a necessary part of recovery for all to some extent.
All high demand or cultic groups surround and support the needs of a
charismatic leader which helps a survivor understand the nature of
the group that they've exited. Therapist Roseanne
Henry, an expert in trauma and the phenomenon of high demand
religions, has stated that it may be helpful for some in recovery to
look at the diagnostic criteria for Borderline, Antisocial,
Narcissistic and other personality
disorders to see if they can find similar patterns in their
abusive religious leader's behavior. It can be quite vindicating and
eye opening, for it gives the survivor the additional perspective
that puts blame where blame is due – on the manipulative and
abusive group leader.

Clergy
Benefits Exploited by Predators

The
topic encompasses a host of themes, but I found this quote from the
article revealing. As is revealed in other
posts on this subject here on this site, reasonably healthy and
functional people fail to think like a predator and don't naturally
consider things from such an unhealthy point of view. Ignorance of
the basic insights about how a manipulator and abuser thinks makes a
healthy person vulnerable to their deceptions. We Christians often
have to work on that “wise
as a serpent” aspect of life, and understanding skewed ways of
thinking should be a part of of that wisdom.

It
is disturbing because most of us don’t think about these things.
Most people don’t think like a predator, but below are some
insights that should make you think. These insights are based on
conversations I and others have had with predators who intentionally
sought to join religious organizations and from studying such
individuals.

Among
other general factors factors, predators find religious
organizations/institutions desirable because they offer an already
established infrastructure, the appearance of legitimacy, a pool of
access to victims who are often quite vulnerable, readily available
access to information, a network of protection/information provided
by the system, and the opportunity for financial gain.

Navarro
goes on to specify the benefits that religious systems tend to
provide to predators (which I've summarized, highlighting notable
consistencies in the thought reform and spiritual abuse models):

Predictable
schedules (to either corner a victim or perhaps gain access to
their home when they are expected to be at gatherings).

Encouraged
confession of faults (which the predator can exploit for
manipulation and gain – Cult of Confession per Lifton).

Information
through informal social channels (gossip which provides
additional personal details about individuals in their group and
their potential vulnerability – Mystical Manipulation per
Lifton).

Access
to people who are not in one's own socioeconomic group (such as
access to the circles of the wealthy who would otherwise be outside
of one's reach).

Parental
trust (“Often, as we now well know, the
fear of retribution, being ostracized or socially marginalized, or
excommunicated keeps victims and parents silent.” –
Excommunication speaks to Dispensing of Existence per Lifton)

Thought Reform @ Church?

Concerning Things Cultic within Biblical Christianity

Spiritual Abuse describes the process by which a religious authority misuses power and the trust of their flock in order to meet their own needs or the needs of the system.

Many evangelical churches with sound and solid Biblical doctrine can be considered aberrant or "cultic" when they practice techniques of manipulation and thought reform.

Please read here concerning the many different aspects of this type of manipulation and spiritual abuse including development, practice and recovery from the phenomenon.

The blog title emphasizes that Christians live under the unmerited favor of God (grace) as opposed to earning favor with God. The notable aberrant and cultic system established by Bill Gothard redefines grace as something merited through the good work of submission to authority. Grace cannot be earned through submission to any law and comes by unmerited favor through faith alone!